If you have been wandering the aisles of your local supermarket, pharmacy or health store recently no doubt you will have noticed a steady increase in the number of natural deodorant options on the shelves. Increasingly, consumers are avoiding chemical-laden deodorants and anti-perspirants for fears around ingredients such as aluminium, parabens, sulphates and triclosan. There have been suggestions that certain chemicals in deodorants can increase the risk of cancer, cancerous skin damage or can disrupt hormones in your body. Natural deodorants offer a wonderful alternative to conventional deodorants.
If you flip to the back of the natural deodorant tin, tube or jar; one of most common ingredients you will notice is sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda. Baking soda is a key deodorant in the majority of organic deodorants – due to its antibacterial properties - that control bacteria growth and neutralise odour - and the ability to absorb excess moisture from the armpits.
Sodium bicarbonate is a salt that is commonly found dissolved in mineral springs and has has widespread application in cooking, cleaning, odour prevention, cosmetic applications and is even a common ingredient in toothpaste .
If you are a regular user of natural deodorants you may have heard some people mention they are allergic to baking soda. This is unlikely to be the case. Baking soda is present in loads of food products, so unless a similar reaction occurs when you are tucking into your home baking, it is not an allergy.
Some people with dry or sensitive skin can be react to baking soda and may be prone to redness, irritation, and inflammation. The truth is, this is related to pH balance.
Underarms are naturally acidic, with a pH of around 5.0. Baking soda, on the other hand, is renowned for its alkaline qualities. The reaction that a small number of people get from using baking soda deodorants to eliminate underarm bacteria is caused by a change in the skin's pH. It has been estimated that around 5% of women can develop irritation when using baking soda, some of whom only react during their menstrual cycles.
So why are some people impacted and the vast majority unaffected? The reaction is entirely dependant on your temple’s pH level. Age, gender, diet, hormones, stress, alcohol and lifestyle can all affect our chemistry and our skin's pH.
So what can you do about it? The key to is select a deodorant formulation that is gentle on the skin. Ingredients such as shea butter can help sooth and hydrate your skin, and coconut oil can create a barrier for your skin preventing unnecessary moisture from escaping. Lone Kauri natural deodorant ingredients include shea butter, coconut oil and sweet almond oil - which has Vitamin E to keep skin cells healthy, smooth and soft.
As with all deodorants, apply sparingly. With Lone Kauri products a little goes a long way and a small amount will provide all day protection. We also offer a money back guarantee on our deodorants. If, for any reason, you are unhappy with your deodorant you can return it within the first 30 days and receive a full refund.
